New Hampshire signs gay marriage bill

Bill makes space for conscientious objection

Jun 30, 2009

New Hampshire became the sixth state to legalize same-sex marriage as Governor John Lynch signed a bill rewritten slightly by lawmakers to ensure that religious organizations and their employees would not be forced to participate in same-sex wedding ceremonies.

Lynch, a Democrat, who called for the exemption, said after the signing June 3 that the state was “standing up for the liberties of same-sex couples.” The law will become effective January 1, two years after the Granite State began recognizing civil unions.

V. Gene Robinson, New Hampshire’s openly gay Episcopal bishop, said that credible clergy advocating for change held “a lot of sway with legislators in terms of giving them cover.”